First Battle of Quang Tri

The First Battle of Quang Tri occurred from 30 March to 1 May 1972 during the Easter Offensive of the Vietnam War.

The NVA took advantage of the US' policy of Vietnamization (the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam) to strike at the ARVN forces in South Vietnam on three fronts, one of which penetrated the DMZ and invaded Quang Tri Province. The ARVN deployed its newly formed 3rd Division to hold Quang Tri, but the 3rd Division faced the NVA 304th, 308th, and 324th Divisions. On 2 April 1972, an entire ARVN regiment surrendered at Camp Carroll, and the NVA overran Dong Ha on 30 April after a month of overcoming ARVN resistance. On 1 May, ARVN general Vu Van Giai decided that any further defense of Quang Tri city was pointless and withdrew to a line along the My Chanh River. By 2 May, all of Quang Tri Province had fallen to the NVA, who now threatened Hue.